Brookside Square design promotes old-fashioned neighborly interactions

When Barry and Mandy Mazuch began searching for a second home to accommodate their growing family, their search criteria included new construction, easy access to Highway 63, a feeling of community with fellow neighbors and a safe place to raise their children. They found all those elements, and other amenities, at Brookside Square, a 60-acre development off of Smiley Lane.

Brookside Square represents Columbia’s first Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) developed north of Interstate 70. Based loosely on the popular Village of Cherry Hill in southern Columbia, Brookside Square offers three types of dwellings: traditional homes, cottage-size sites with rear alley access to garages, and condo-style town houses built around the center square of the neighborhood. There is also land zoned for eventual commercial development east of the square.

Developer and Realtor Bob Walters says construction is complete or nearly complete on each of three home choices offered in Brookside Square.
“All the infrastructure is in,” he said. “We have 20 traditional homes standing, with 10 to 12 families in them; four alley homes are complete. The town homes are up, but incomplete.”

Walters, who is developing the land for Tom Bass, says he has no plans to develop the commercial area at this time, as the 763/Range Line corridor is currently experiencing significant commercial building.

“There is a lot of commercially zoned property in this area,” Walters said. “We have some set aside for future development, but we are making no attempt to develop commercially right now.”

The heart of Brookside Square is the two-acre town square, dotted with park benches, sidewalk trails, and extensive landscaping and lighting. Although the square still has a “winter look,” described by Walters, resident Many Mazuch, who moved into her new home March 1, says her family has already visited the square frequently, despite the weather.

“We go down to the square a lot,” she said. “My 6-year-old can drive her Barbie jeep, while I push the 15-month-old in a stroller. I’m really excited about it. It’s a great place to raise kids.”

The three-tiered housing options at Brookside Square offer a range of price and size alternatives for homebuyers. There will be no rental housing at Brookside, Walters said. The town houses, which also include detached rear garages, will be sold as condos.

According to national reports, TNDs are a throwback to pre-World War II neighborhoods and a backlash to the suburban flight that has occurred over the last 50 years. The first TND was developed in 1981. Since then, more than 100 have popped up throughout the country. TNDs differ from suburban development in land use and integration of elements, including varying housing styles and businesses. Another feature of TNDs is a strong pedestrian orientation as all TNDs incorporate some sort of common area shared by homeowners.

“Typical suburban developments section off large chunks of land, fill them with one type of building and connect them with roads,” said Jason Miller, an expert in TNDs. “TNDs blend these key elements, with single-family homes, town houses and apartments often occupying the same block,”
Although Mazuch has lived in Brookside Square less than a month, she says the design of the development promotes camaraderie.

“All the neighbors I’ve met are so nice,” Mazuch said. “With no sign of buyer’s remorse, we really like the ambiance the developers are trying to create. This is a growing side of town with easy access.”

Walters, whose other developments include The Highlands, Bedford Walk, Arcadia and West Cliff, says that although new home sales are sluggish throughout Columbia, the proposed Missouri Department of Transportation work on Range Line Street and the extension of Providence Road north will enhance the already convenient access to Brookside Square.